Plant receptacles



Sept- 22 1954 M. FERRAND PLANT REcEPTAcLEs Filed sept. 12, 19Go /NVENTO/Zf ,2 /lddfzceL FEMA/w.

United States Patent O 3,15%,d29 PLANT RECEPTACLES Marcel Ferrand, 13 Rue @sn/aid Larogi e, Toulon, France Filed Sept. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 55,4%' Claims priority, application France Aug. 9, 1960 it Claim. (Cl. 16H-55) This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier and co-pending patent lapplication Serial No. 69t,336, led October 21, 1957, now abandoned.

This invention relates to receptacles for plants, and more particularly to a grid for use in such receptacles.

In general, for the purpose of obtaining humidiiication, it is necessary to use earthy materials contained in boxes, vases, or other fittings of porous material.

These materials of baked clay, ceramic or the like are heavy, easily broken, and are not very permeable to air.

The object of the invention consists in the provision of a grid of rigid elements disposed sufliciently near to each other to constitute a rigid body structure serving to carry in stretched manner a preferably synthetic fabric which is non-corroding, of very fine mesh, permeable to air and water, and absorbent.

According to the present invention a grid comprises upper and lower sets of spaced bars arranged transversely one to the other and joined at their points of intersection through a sheet of porous material disposed between the sets of bars.

The grid is preferably made of synthetic resinous plastic material, such as nylon, and having rigid longitudinal and transverse elements constituted by crossing a plurality of bars, with interpositioning of a fabric (e.g., nylon) which is permeable, Wettable, and non-corroding. These elements are secured to each other by welding of the bars of the rigid body structures, constituted by the sets of bars, at their points of crossing. The contexture of the fabric is passed through by the plastic material, assuring its fixation and its tension, and the lines of fabric are unbroken in both directions.

An embodiment in accordance with the invention is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of elements for forming `a grid, and comprising longitudinal bars (FIG. l), a sheet of fabric (FIG. 2) and transverse bars (FIG. 3).

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the grid.

FIGURE 5 is the completed grid, to an enlarged scale, to show the manner of welding of bars of the grid at intersection points.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show porosity passages in the grid.

FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate schematically the manner of use of the grid.

The grid elements shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are constituted by crossed rigid bars 1 and 2 forming rigid body structures (FIG. 4) with a sheet of preferably synthetic resinous plastic fabric 4 with very close stitches or mesh. The plastic may be, for example, that known as nylon. The bars may also be made of that material, or any other Weldable synthetic resinous plastic, e.g., polyvinylchloride or polyethylene.

The upper rigid body structure is welded to the perpendicular lower rigid body structure through the contexture of the fabric, at each crossing position 5, 6.

3,159,029 Fatented Sept. 22, 1964 ice There are thus created longitudinal channels 7 (between the longitudinal bars of FIG. 1) and transverse channels 8 (between the transverse bars of FIG. 3), without break of continuity, and the free spaces are filled by the fabric retained at the various points, which permits the obtaining of a perfectly plane stretched surface stabilised by the assembly of elementswhich reinforce each other.

The advantages of the grid are numerous. Firstly, the longitudinal bars 1, and transverse bars 2 reinforce each other at their points of crossing and give to the sheet of fabric 4 a rigidity permitting resistance lto heavy loads.

The interpositioning of the fabric 4 between the two rigid body `structures formed by the crossed bars constituting a grid reinforces the assembly.

The coupling between :the fabric and the grid is perfect, because the grid, obtained by molding of the bars onto each surface of the fabric (whilst the latter is held taut between the two parts of the mold), welds itself at each crossing position, and the plastic material passes through the contexture of the fabric at the crossing positions S and 6 to constitute a perfectly homogeneous assembly.

The crossing positions 5, 6 spread over the entire surface increase the strength of the grid and of the fabric which can support, without risk of tearing, masses of earth 9, 1t) (FIGS. 8 and 9).

The spaces 11, 12 of the box 13 or pot 14, filled with water, are separated from the earth by the grids shown schematically at 15. Capillary tapes 16, 1"7 can be placed at predetermined points and a sheet of water extends by capillarity along the channels 7 and 8 spreading the humidication over all the surface of the grid.

The earth itself is humidifed in sections, and is aerated in a perfect manner.

The preferably synthetic fabric is non-corroding, but is absorbent and permeable.

There `is thus obtained a grid having porous areas, and being strong, cleanable and unbreakable, which can be placed lin any receptacle, box or even in the earth itself.

There can also be provided walls for receptacles having these grids which can retain the earth, and aerate the surfaces.

I claim:

A grid for use in separating soil from Water in cultivation trays, and comprising an upper set of parallel bars spaced in one plane, and a lower set of parallel bars spaced in another plane, said upper and lower sets of bars being made of thermoplastic synthetic resinous material, the bars of the upper set being disposed transversely with respect to the bars of the lower set, the bars of said upper and lower sets being joined together at their points of intersection by Weldments passing through the pores of a sheet of porous thermoplastic synthetic resinous material disposed between the sets of bars and by weldments connecting the bars and the surface of the sheet in contact with the bars, said porous synthetic resinous material having pores of a size to prevent particles of soil from passing therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,515 Stevens Feb. 13, 1894 2,249,197 Brundin July l5, 1941 2,378,801 Sidell et al. June 19, 1945 

